Chicken exerciser and feeder.



W. H. (IOLLINS.

KEN EXERCISER AND FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24. I917.

CHIC

menm 32111.8,1918.

I wm n WITNESSES k I/ I n ATTOWJEVS entrain stares PATENT WALTER H. COLLINS, OF SUMMIT, NEW J EESEY.

CHICKEN EXERCISER AND FEEDER.

Application fi1ed August 24, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER H. COLLIN a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Summit, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Chicken Exerciser and Feeder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive chicken feeder and exerciser which is characterized by a feed container having a controllable outlet for the feed which normally is so positioned as to be inaccessible to the fowls, the discharge of feed being obtained by the motion of a pendulum provided with a container for feed at the free end and accessible to fowls to peck at. of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the application, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a feeder and exerciser embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the bottom of the container showing the feed control and the mounting of the pendulum Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bottom showing the discharge opening into the feed-com trolling means;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line t1, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is asimilar section showing the feed control in a different position;

Fig. 6 is a section through the bottom of the pendulum showing the container for feed for the fowls to peek at and displace the pendulum;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the cup forming part of the feed control; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the inner sleeve of the feed control.

Referring to the drawings, 9 is any suitable container which has an aperture 10 in the bottom of same. A cup 11 is secured to the bottom about the opening so as to depend from the bottom. This cup has outwardly depressed flanges 12 which are segmental in contour and which leave segmental apertures 13 in the bottom of the cup. The two cut-outs 13 are separated by a diametrical bridge 1% forming an integral part of the flanges. From the central part of this bridge a rod 15 is suspended. The rod has Specification of Letters Patent.

This and other characteristics Patented Jan e, 1218.

Serial No. 188,054.

a rivet head 16 which is spaced from the bridge by a washer 17 to facilitate the movement of the rod on the bridge and between the flanges 12.

A cup 18 is mounted on the rod 15 in proximity of the bottom of the cup 11. It is connected to the rod, preferably bya pin 19 passing through depressed lugs 20 in the bottom of the cup and through an aperture in the rod. The cup is, therefore, constrained to move with the rod 15. side openings 21 with which openings 22 in a ring 23 register when the ring is mounted within the cup. See Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. The ring 23 has an outwardly-directed pin at which passes through a notched slot 25 in the side of the cup whereby the size of the openings formed by the ring and cup may be varied and, in consequence, the amount of feed passing therethrough. To prevent a relative axial movement between the ring and cup, an outward recess 26 is formed in the side of the cup and a projection 27 in the side of the ring which enters the recess. This engagement of the projection with the recess allows the pin to be forced over a notch in the notched slot but it prevents the disengagement of the ring with the cup.

A cylinder 28 of gauze material is mounted 011 the lower end of the rod 15. The cylinder has a reinforcing washer 29 at the lower end and a plug 30 at the upper end, both apertuged centrally to engage the rod 15. The cylinder is prevented from drop ping off by a pin 31 fitted into the end of the rod 15. This cylinder is adapted to carry feed 32 at a point easily accessible by the fowls so that they will peek at and set the rod 15 into vibration, thereby causing the cup and sleeve to move and shake the feed therein out through the openings 21 and 22. To scatter the dropping feed, I provide a cone-shaped disk 38 which is supported on the rod 15 by the cylinder 28 and which, with the cylinder, appears like a mushroom.

The depending flanges 12 serve as stirrers in the cup 18 when the same is moved by the displacement of the pendulum.

I claim: Y

1. A chicken feeder and exerciser com prising a cup adapted to be secured to the bottom of a container, said cup having arcuate flanged sections depending outwardly and forming a bridged opening at the bottom of the cup, a pendulum suspend- It has ed from the bridge to swing between the flanges, a cup secured to the pendulum 1nto which said flanges extend, said cup being disposed about the bridged opening olt'the first-ment1oned cup, means associated with said second cup to control the discharge of feed therethrough, and means at the bottom of the pendulum for causing fowls to peek at it.

2. Achicken feeder and exerciser comprising a cup adapted to be secured to the bottom of a container, said cup having a bridged opening in the bottom o'l same, flanges extending outwardly from the bridge of the opening, a pendulum suspended from the bridge to swing between the flanges, a

cup secured to the pendulum about the bridged opening of the firstunentioned cup,

secured to the pendulum about the bridged opening of the first-mentioned cup, said sec- 0nd cup having side openings, a ring in said cup having openings adapted to register with the side openings of the cup, said cup having a dented slot in the side thereof, a pin in the ring for engaging the notched slot whereby the side openings in the cup may be varied in size, and means associated with the ends of the pendulum for causing fowls to peek at it.

i. A chicken feeder'and exerciser comprising a cup adapted-to be securedto the bottom of a container, said cup having bridged openings in the bottom of same, a pendulum suspended from the bridge of the opening, a cup secured to the pendulum about the bridged opening of the first-mentioned cup, said second cup having side' openings, a sleeve in said second cup having openings adapted to register with-the side openings of the. cup, said cup having a notched slot in the side thereof and an out ward depression of a length substantially equal to the dented slot, a pin on said sleeve engaging the notched slot and a projection for engaging the depression of the cup, and means associated with the bottom of the pendulum for causing fowls' to peckat it.

WALTER H. COLLINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

